Swoopes, Cooper head up WNBA All-Decade team

The Associated Press

Published Wednesday, June 14, 2006

NEW YORK -- Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper and Tina Thompson, teammates on the Houston Comets team that won the first four WNBA championships, were selected to the league's All-Decade team Tuesday night.

Lisa Leslie, who led the Los Angeles Sparks to the next two championships, in 2001 and 2002, also made the list, along with the Seattle Storm's Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird, who won the title in 2004.

The 10-player team also includes Tamika Catchings of Indiana, Yolanda Griffith of defending champion Sacramento, Detroit's Katie Smith and Houston's Dawn Staley, who will retire after this season. Cooper retired in 2003.

"It comes as a surprise to me, certainly to be in great company, especially with the great players from the Houston Comets," Staley said. "It's an honor to be associated with those players and just represent the WNBA in this manner, not just for the basketball, but for all the things we do in the community and what we do to try to continue women's basketball on the professional level here in the United States."

Leslie, Swoopes and Thompson are founding players still on their original teams.

Mystics 87, Sting 70

WASHINGTON -- Chasity Melvin scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter, spurring a 12-0 run that led the Washington Mystics to a 87-70 victory over the Charlotte Sting.

Nikki Teasley scored a season-high 19 points, and DeLisha Milton-Jones and Alana Beard had 18 apiece for the Mystics.

, 5-0 at home and 0-3 on the road. Melvin matched her season high with 14 points.

Tangela Smith scored a season-high 24 points to lead the Sting

All 10 have earned Olympic medals. Jackson has a silver with Australia and the rest won gold for the United States.

The players were selected from a group of 30 nominees in balloting by a panel of fans, media, current players and coaches. League officials said consideration was given to on-court performance and ability, leadership, sportsmanship and community service.

"The group consists of not only tremendous athletes who have reached extraordinary heights on the court, but of terrific women who give unselfishly of their time and effort in the community," WNBA president Donna Orender said.

Five other players earning honorable mention were Ruthie Bolton and Teresa Weatherspoon, who retired in 2004, and current players Chamique Holdsclaw (Los Angeles), Ticha Penicheiro (Sacramento) and Diana Taurasi (Phoenix).

The All-Decade team will be honored formally during the WNBA All-Star game on July 12 at Madison Square Garden.